Story of Jatayu
7 Feb, 2023
Vultures are large sized scavenging birds, feeding mostly on the carcasses of dead animals. They also have an important cultural role in the consumption of human dead bodies in sky burials within Nepal and Tibet. South Asia’s Vultures are on the brink of extinction because of veterinary use of the drug diclofenac.
In two decades, five species of vultures among nine within the Indian Sub-continent have declined by up to 99.9%.
Within Vulture Safe Zones, Vulture Safe Feeding Sites (popularly called Jatayu Restaurants) is the first community managed vulture restaurant in the world.
The restaurant buys old cattle such as cows, buffalos, and other livestock which have become an economic burden for the farmers and take care of them until they die. After they die naturally, the carcass is fed to the vultures.
Nepal’s first feeding site lies within Kawasoti municipality in Nawalparasi district, and is adjacent to the buffer zone of Chitwan National Park. Out of the nine species of vultures recorded in Nepal, eight have been seen feeding on carcasses at this site.
DB Chaudhary of Kawasoti Municipality-13 Laukhani of East Nawalparasi is the person who brought the concept of Jatayu Restaurant to conserve vultures 17 years ago. In early days, people thought vulture as a dirty birds and very skeptic on why we should preserve these birds? what does these birds give us? It was hard to explain and make sense. Mr Chaudhary along with few people who joined the conservation campaign, rally for support from village and government. Since the name “Jatayu” is associated with religious text Ramayana as a brave bird who sacrificed it’s own life in the effort to save Goddess Sita from Evil King Ravana, the campaign decided to use the name “Jatayu” for Vulture Safe Feeding Sites, hoping it will bring positive affiliation to the bird.
Of the 9 species of vulture found in Nepal, Red-headed Vulture, Bearded Vulture, Slender-billed Vulture, and Indian Vulture are listed as endangered species. Others species namely, White-rumped Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, Cinereous Vulture, Bearded Vulture, Slender-billed Vulture, Himalayan Griffon, Griffon Vulture & Red-headed Vultures are found in Nepal. In early 2006, about 1,200 pairs of vultures were found in Nepal. Currently, that number has increased to an estimated over 12,000.
The use of diclofenac in Nepal as a veterinary medicine is now completely banned in Nepal and India.
Work produced during Unnati Artist Residency Program. The “Nawalpur Artists Residence” program was held by Unnati Cultural Village/CG Foundation, between 27th Dec 2022 and 12th Jan 2023
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